If you've got a pest problem but are worried about the cost of dealing with it, take a look at our low cheap and low cost pest control services and ideas.
Coming across a mouse or infestation of ants in your home can be a particularly distressing experience, and on first sight you might be tempted to pick up the phone and immediately get in touch with a professional pest exterminator. These experts do charge what are often surprisingly high rates for a lot of homeowners, especially in the current economic climate. To get cheap pest control services, ask your local council rather than head straight for a private company and carry out a pest control price comparison. For example, Ealing council give a 50% discount on pest control services for owner occupiers who receive council tax benefit.
Low Cost Pest Control Ideas
You can also take a number of preventative measures without spending a penny (or barely!). Just look over the following tips to get the best idea of how to keep your home as pest-free as possible:
- Mouse traps can be purchased at relatively cheap prices from a range of hardware shops; raw bacon and peanut butter make particularly good bait compared to the traditional option of cheese
- An infestation of ants can be destroyed by applying a mixture of sugar-and-borax around the perimeter of the home; the sugar attracts the ants, and then the borax chemical acts as a poison. Some homeowners, however, find hot water straight from the kettle can be just as effective
- If you run out of insect spray to get rid of any flies or wasps that can’t find their own way out of a room, fear not – hairspray also works just as well
- Garden pests such as slugs – which often attack your more delicate and beautiful plants – can also be killed by covering them in a small amount of salt. If you’re looking for a more humane, preventative method, then you might want to regularly lay down grapefruit halvesaround your most precious flowers
- If you’re worried about flies or mosquitoes in the hot summer months, you can always stick up protective nets around the porch, veranda or even conservatory – as long as there are no holes in the material it should keep them from being a nuisance for a pretty long time!
- To prevent insects from gaining access to the home, you should always keep a tidy gardenand make sure plants (other than pots or baskets) aren’t placed too near to the building; that way there will be little reason for creepy crawlies to venture that close to the home
- Maintaining a clean and tidy home indoors is just as important too. Insects and smaller creatures such as mice frequently use clutter and mess as shields to hide behind – and although they may be out of sight, they still spread germs and disease – so keep things clear as much as possible!
- If you’re still having trouble, you should check for any small holes or cracks in the wallswhere pests might quietly gain access to the property. Remember, some require just a quarter of an inch gap to get inside – and just a small piece of wool or scouring pad gently pushed into these holes can stop them altogether
Remember, although not all these pest control methods involve the use of irritable (or potentially harmful) substances, you should always be careful when implementing these pest control ideas. If you have children or pets you should take extra caution, and if necessary seek the advice of a specialist who can help you get the job done without harming you or your family. Ask for a pest control price list so you can compare the prices of a few different companies.
